Disclaimer: Don't own it, not making any money off of it! Decisions- Part III "Do you read anything,Apollo?" Starbuck asked, looking at his own scanners. Although they were close to the planet, and Starbuck was convinced that there had to be something powering that field, his equipment still read "no life forms." "Nothing yet, Starbuck. But that field could be throwing everything off." Apollo responded, using his usual tone. Very few things altered Apollo's professional tone when he was in flight, so Starbuck knew not to read too much into it. Deep down, he knew Apollo was as anxious as he was. "Did anyone ever think that whatever is down there is cloaking itself?" Boomer interjected, a sick feeling in his stomach as the field became closer. He knew that the symbol said "Enter," but that was not exactly reassuring given the condition Sheba's squadron came back in. "We won't know until we get there. Preparing to breech the field now. Starbuck, Boomer, stay back untilI contact you when I reach the other side." Apollo responded, engaging thrusters. What struck Apollo was the beauty of the field. It was intricate in its formation, and from the closer view he now had he could appreciate it. The seemingly numberless threads of light,which formed the symbols, pulsed as if living. It was if the stars that constantly intrigued him came together to form this link to the colonials' past. Yet,there was something foreboding about the field, and Apollo knew very well that this beauty could suddenly turn deadly. As he passed the field, he thought in a panic-filled micron that he saw the field become brighter. Without incident, he found himself on the other side. "Starbuck, Boomer, do you read?"he called out, sighing with relief. "Hey Captain, still here." Boomer responded, "Do we follow?" "Yes, engage thrusters now. Land and we'll rendezvous on thesurface." The three warriors stood in wonder,looking at the planet that surrounded them. The hand-held scanners that the trio held all read no life forms, and yet the village that the surrounded them indicated that someone had to be there. The huts all stood in a perfect state of repair, and yet their form reminded Boomer of a historical village that he had seen on Caprica. Just as int hat village, there was a central building that stood much larger than the others. It contained several large windows composed of multi-colored glass, and the sun shining through them imbued the ground with a prism of color. On the walls there were many symbols, and although Boomer could not read them he recognized them as the symbols that surrounded the houses of worship back on Caprica albeit in a much more primitive form. The local temple near Boomer had these symbols carved out of gold hanging off of its walls, this one had them painted on as if the wall were a fresco. "Boomer, Apollo, come look at this!" Starbuck called out, breaking Boomer's concentration. He stood by another hut, gesturing for his shipmates to enter. Inside, there were vaults filled of cured meats, water supplies, and preserved fruits and vegetables. The air was full with the scent of curing smoke and spices, something none of the men had smelled since the destruction. "Whoever was here was sure in a rush to leave," Starbuck commented, looking around in wonder. The food stores here had to be enough to feed over 100 people, at least. "Maybe not, look at this place. Everything is in perfect order. You would think that if the people who were here were running from something there would be some sign of disorder." Apollo responded, opening the cabinet doors that surrounded the preserved rations. Inside of these cabinets were bottles of drink, alcoholic and non. Boomer recognized the bitter pomme drink that his aunt used to make for him and his cousins when they were young, sot hey didn't feel left out when the adults were drinking ambrosia. "Maybe they were intending to return?" Boomer queried, picking up one of the bottles. Although a little dusty, the labels were handwritten and in excellent condition. "Maybe. Let's look around some more. Boomer, take that bottle to bring back to the Galactica." Apollo ordered, walking out of the hut. His attention focused on the huts that surrounded temple in a circular shape. As they entered, they saw that they were all rudimentary living quarters, with the basic features found on the colonies long ago. Although they did not have running water,each was supplied with their own pump that Apollo figured had to be tapped into some community source. Once again, Apollo was struck by the orderly condition of this community. "Well, someone forgot some clothes." Boomer pointed out,walking out of one of the huts with what seemed like a woman's outfit from the color and material. "Give it here!" Apollo demanded, becoming excited. He took the clothing and carefully laid it out on the ground. While it definitely was a woman's dress, there was also a head covering attached to it. "If a woman wore that all you would see would be her eyes." Boomer remarked, puzzled. Even that strict cult on Gemon that only allowed physical contact between genders every seven yahrens did not require that of their women. "Put that in the pack." Apollo said, fingering the material as he handed it to Starbuck for keeping. "This material is kind of heavy. Must get cold here." Apollo remarked, walking towards the temple. As if in reverence, the three men hesitated in front of its doors. Taking a deep breath, Apollo grabbed the knob to the massive wooden portals and opened it. Inside, from the windows, a heavenly-seeming light illuminated the building, giving it a ethereal quality. "Apollo, this looks like a Kobolissean house of worship." Boomer remarked, gesturing to the back of the temple. In the back there was a sanctuary, with closed doors decorated by the symbol of a tree. In Caprican temples, the scriptures were held in a bound book left by the pulpit so they could be easily read. The Kobolisseans, however, kept their scripture in scrolls, decoratively bound and kept safe behind the doors. There was also a lamp that, mysteriously,shone brightly as if it had just been lit. "I wish Cassie or Sheba were here." Starbuck muttered, investigating what he assumed were the prayer books. Although both women were members of a faith that broke away from the Kobolisseans, they knew the old form of Gemon that both religious services followed. "Maybe they could make headsor tails out of this." "Wait a minute." Boomer interrupted, looking at the artwork that surrounded the temple. All of the pictures, which illustrated the story of the House of Kobol, were painted directly onto the walls. The last one, however, was painted on a piece of papyrus. Boomer removed the picture, only to find on the back what appeared to be writing that combined what he knew of Kobolian with Old Gemonese. Apollo approached, regarding the scroll with interest. In his heart, he knew this was something valuable and should be brought to his father to decipher. He carefully rolled the scroll and placed it in an environmentally safe pack. "Maybe we should also take one of these prayer books?" Boomer asked,picking up one of the bound editions from beneath a seat. "This may also give us some kind of clue." Apollo nodded, also wrapping the book in the seal. While he did not find the living link to the past he had hoped for, he still felt eager to let his father inspect what they had found on this planet.